Thursday, June 16, 2016

Marines and sailors facing involuntary separation due to a diagnosed
mental health condition will now be better guarded against leaving the
military with other-than-honorable discharges.

The unprecedented
change was made last week by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. It requires
service members with conditions like post-traumatic stress or traumatic
brain injury to have a disability evaluation before a final decision on
their involuntary separation is made.

Veteran groups lauded the change and are calling on other military branches to follow suit.

In
the past, misconduct was the predominate factor in every involuntary
separation. This long-held approach adversely impacted veterans’ ability
to receive benefits, and did not take into full consideration how the
service member's condition may have contributed to the misconduct.

Diagnosed
mental health conditions will take precedence over misconduct under the
new Disability Evaluation System, which is effective immediately.
Additionally, Marines and sailors with a diagnosed mental health
condition who are facing other-than-honorable discharge will be referred
to the first general or flag officer in their chain of command for a
final determination.

Keeping faith

The new policy was largely
driven by comments heard as Mabus visited sailors and Marines, family
members, and veteran groups, said Navy Capt. Patrick McNally, the
SecNav's spokesman. The change required a months-long policy review and
some legal steps to allow the secretary to make the change.